Africa-Press – Seychelles. A first-ever facility for youth offenders in Seychelles opened on Monday on Praslin, the second most populated island.
The facility, which is based at Amitié, was inaugurated by President Wavel Ramkalawan and Minister for Internal Affairs Roy Fonseka.
The centre caters for young people aged 14 to 17 convicted by the court for criminal offences only. It includes separate dormitories for male and female clients and can host up to 13 females and 20 males with around 15 staff.
It also comprises of classrooms, a dining area, holding cells, sports areas and vocational training areas and is expected to host curriculum studies as well as therapeutic music and arts sessions.
In his address at the opening, Ramkalawan said, “Criminality among the youth is everyone’s business. It is a great challenge to cater to youth who will be sent to the facility but it can only be tackled by the joining of hands of all stakeholders including the community. A child is born in a family but nurtured by a community. The influence the community exerts on the child carries immense impacts.”
He stated that the facility will not solve all the country’s problems and “if we do not make proper use of it, it can become the source of one of our biggest problems.”
Ramkalawan called on all those responsible for the facility to ensure its proper functioning.
“As we seek to protect our children convicted in the court of law, let us ensure that we ourselves are not pointing them in the wrong direction. We will be adopting a zero-tolerance policy for any unethical behaviour from staff members,” he added.
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